Hello everyone. Maybe i just need a little encouragement or need to be more patient? I had surgery on Dec 21, 2006. It's been almost 4 1/2 months. I originally lost 5 lbs before the surgery, but since the surgery have only lost 12 more pounds. I actually gained 3 pounds when i went for my second fill, but when i went for the third fill i had lost the 3 lbs again. So i am still at 17 lbs lost postop.

I still am not feeling much restriction, but the surgeon tells me he sees that i am restricted. I am scheduled for a fourth fill on June 21. It gets a little discouraging. I am leaving on a cruise next week with my girlfriends and now I am worried about gaining weight. I have been exercising, but i still feel hungry at times - maybe not as much as i felt before surgery, but i still don't feel real full. I am also careful to not drink with a meal, and try to eat more Protein, veggies, etc. I have heard some people get 5 or 6 fills before really losing. If there is anyone out there that has been through this same ordeal, can you please respond? I think i just need to hear i am not the only one. THANKS YOU GUYS!

Helene (aka Magilla)

:help:

hi Helene, My name is Marie, I am due to get my band in 13 days. reading your post frightens me! I did not realise you could have the band and not lose weight. I was told I would still have to watch what I eat, and be very careful about alcohol, dessert, fat. is it possible you are eating something which you think is low calorie, but is not? Good luck. Marie.

Hello everyone. Maybe i just need a little encouragement or need to be more patient? I had surgery on Dec 21, 2006. It's been almost 4 1/2 months. I originally lost 5 lbs before the surgery, but since the surgery have only lost 12 more pounds. I actually gained 3 pounds when i went for my second fill, but when i went for the third fill i had lost the 3 lbs again. So i am still at 17 lbs lost postop.

I still am not feeling much restriction, but the surgeon tells me he sees that i am restricted. I am scheduled for a fourth fill on June 21. It gets a little discouraging. I am leaving on a cruise next week with my girlfriends and now I am worried about gaining weight. I have been exercising, but i still feel hungry at times - maybe not as much as i felt before surgery, but i still don't feel real full. I am also careful to not drink with a meal, and try to eat more Protein, veggies, etc. I have heard some people get 5 or 6 fills before really losing. If there is anyone out there that has been through this same ordeal, can you please respond? I think i just need to hear i am not the only one. THANKS YOU GUYS!

Helene (aka Magilla)

:help:

Hi Helene, I'm new to this forum and was looking

for some help. The exact same thing is happening to me. Both me and my best friend had surgery on the same day in January and have lost only 21 pounds. We did really well in the begining and didn't feel hungry at all. Then we started eating more. Well, we started cheating by drinking with our meals which allowed us to eat more. It's really difficult not to drink with your food. I know we have to stop doing this. We've only had one fill and it did help at the begining but then again, we started drinking with our meals. Mind you, I'm definitely not eating as much as I used too. But I could do alot better. I know the lap band is only a tool and I have to do all the work, but it is sooooo hard sometimes. So Helene, you're not alone. Come on guys, we need alittle encouragement and help. Thanks, Elee

<p>Have you been exercising?</p> <p> </p> <p>I do take a couple of sips of Water after I eat.. Even though we're told to wait atleast 30 minutes before drinking beverages. A few sips will not hurt.</p> <p> </p> <p>I only weigh myself at the doctors so i really don't know if i've lost more or not but I do know that the WATER and EXERCISE had been a MAJOR factor in losing my weight. I feel like I do need another fill because I still feel hungry too shortly after eating.. But I make sure to keep my portions small. </p> <p> </p> <p>I'm not a fan of veggies to be honest, but I love fruit. I need to eat more of it. </p> <p> </p> <p>Do you drink any Protein drinks too? </p> <p> </p> <p>I find that eating string cheese and having a Protein Drink throughout the day holds me over in most cases.</p> <p> </p> <p>Good luck ladies.</p>

P.S. .. It's hard to get all that water in .. in one day. And i found that drinking it from one of the "sport drinks" type bottles makes it soooo much easier to get those 64oz in. If i drink water from a glass or regular/normal water bottle.. I do poorly on keeping up. That's just a suggestion and the water helps keep your stomach full!

I do think that is one of my problems, i don't drink enough Water. And I had in the past drank and ate at the same time, not waiting long enough after a meal. Thanks for your suggestions. I am exercising. I know the band is a tool and I really need to work at this more, but it would help if i had more restriction. I think once my swelling went down from surgery, I have not felt very restricted since that time. I am not giving up though, I want to be successful but maybe I am falling back into old habits. I think i will start drinking the Protein shakes again as they did fill me. Thanks for your response and help.

Helene

I have been doing the same thing. Except I have felt restriction. I had my surgery Oct. 24,06, and I am losing really slow compared to some other people in our support group. I lost 12 before surgery, and now only 25 after. I am dropping inches pretty good, but not the weight. I wasn't exercising like most people say to do, but I had knee surgery last summer and not suppose to walk that much. I also have to drink a little at meals, due to choking problems. I just don't understand how some people can lose so much and we don't.

Of course, I was only right at the 100 lb. limit. In fact the day of surgery I was 6 lbs under the 100 lb. limit. I was told by my Doctor since I was NOT so obese as most people having this procedure done, that mine weigh would come off slower. But no one told me that before the surgery. Don't get me wrong, I would have this surgery done again in a heartbeat, I am just ticked off that my weigh is not coming off as fast as I would want it to.

I have started walking now on a new padded treadmill that isn't so hard on my knee. I have lost 4 pounds in about 8 days. I haven't had a fill since March 11. But I think I'm going in next week or so. I think I'm about ready for one.

My Doctor just wants you to come in when you feel like you need a fill. He said some people don't need one as often as others.

Hope you have a GREAT time on your cruise. Lucky!~! I hope to get to take one next summer.

Saltlick

Whoa! If you wanted weight to pour off of you quickly, Lap-Band is not the surgery. The whole point of the surgery is restriction to help ease hunger and eat less. It should be a slow steady weight loss after surgery. Most doctors say it takes up to 2 years to reach your goal weight as opposed to bypass, which is about a year. This makes it a healthy lifestyle choice and safer to lose the weight because it's at a slower pace.

NICE answer Superrali72. NICE !!!

saltlick: Have you tried Water aerobics? It very easy going on your joints and a great workout nonetheless. Its a fun way to get your exercise in without the rough impact to your knees!!!!

Magilla: I know the water thing is difficult but here's what I do to get all my fluids in. When I wake up, before eating, I drink a bottle of water with crystal light. About an hour or so after eating I drink another bottle of crystal light. That's already 32oz by noon. Before my next meal, I drink another bottle. During my workouts, I drink a bottle of water. Lastly, sometime in the evening, I drink another bottle or half of crystal light or water. That's over 64oz plus the two Atkins shakes I drink a day. Hope it helps!!

Kelsy: I agree and do just about what you do to fight those hunger cravings.

I was told not to eat something that has more than 9gr of fat. However, I snack on almonds and walnuts which has more fats but the healthy Omega fats that the body needs. Also, I do indulge here and there with SF ice cream. Klondike makes tasty ice cream bars. Also Edy's have a few good SF flavors...just watch your portions!!!!

I suggest keeping track of your calories and exercise at www.fitday.com or www.thedailyplate.com. You might be surprised to see how much you are consuming and don't realize it. I think most people's targets arre 1000-1200 calories/day...some have to drop to 800...some have to increase to 1400. Healthy carbs only and try to keep them below 75grams. If you want to lose weight, sometimes (unfortunately) you have to get a bit more scientific about it and experiment to see what combination works for you. dont get in ruts with your food, change it up constantly and see if that helps.

Sorry....probably not the answer you were hoping for...but that's just the way it is. Best of luck to you all!